It’s a dynamic that defies logic: Two fierce competitors vying for one position, singularly focused on becoming the starter, yet able to get along and even help each other out.

That’s where sophomore Gary Nova and Chas Dodd find themselves this spring — again — as the competition to be Rutgers’ starting quarterback ratchets up with Saturday’s first intrasquad scrimmage at High Point Solutions Stadium.

“While we’re competing for a job we both want, it’s not so much the ‘death factor,’ where you want to kill him because you’re a competitor,” Dodd said. “It’s not like that. You’re on a team. You’re both fighting for a spot. You’re going to do everything you can do get that job, but within the realm of being a good teammate.”

But quarterback competitions (read: controversies) can get ugly. Tom Savage, once viewed as Rutgers’ franchise quarterback, left after two years following the 2010 season because he didn’t want to battle Dodd for the job.

Dodd entered last year off eight straight starts but wound up facing a week-to-week decision on the starter with the arrival of Nova, then a true freshman.

But from all appearances, Nova and Dodd appear to comfortably co-exist — at least for now.

The test of their relationship will come when coach Kyle Flood finally names a starter, something he said he may not do until a week to 10 days before the Sept. 1 opener at Tulane.

“The first thing is to be a good teammate,” said Nova, who started five games last season compared to Dodd’s eight. “I think we have a great working relationship. We’re two totally opposite kids from different backgrounds. But when it comes to football we both love it and we both care about the team.

“We’re both competitive guys, but there are times you have to let that go, and we do because for us it’s all about getting wins.”

Flood said the first-team quarterback reps will be split in the scrimmage, putting Nova and Dodd on equal footing.

“I want to see the quarterbacks run the team,” Flood said. “I want to see them put us in situations where we can be successful and, as always, anything on offense starts with taking care of the ball.”

A year ago, Nova and Dodd combined for 16 interceptions with 21 touchdown passes. And both spent time as the starter looking over their shoulder — as has been the case at the position almost every season since Rutgers opened 1-5 under Mike Teel in 2008.

If Nova gets the opening-day start, he will be the fifth different quarterback in as many years to have the job in the first game.

“Everyone wants to be the guy, so when you’re not it can maybe get frustrating,” Dodd said. “I have to show (Flood) I deserve the job and I guess, obviously, I haven’t been doing that enough so far. So a lot of it is on me.”

Nova echoes those thoughts.

“You want to be the starter, but until that happens you have to keep working until you get the job,” he said. “But I don’t think about it every day. Chas and I have a good relationship. We encourage each other. If (the competition) goes until August we’ll work as hard as we can until Coach makes a decision and then go from there.”